The White and Gold of God's own Country

(CLICK ON A PIC AND IT WILL GO BIG)

After the length of Wales the other day the last two days have seen me travel the length of England, well pretty much. Today I was mostly in Yorkshire which gave me the opportunity to pop into one of the local reserves. Luckily I had a few saved on my Satnav and so popped over to Wheldrake. In the visitors centre I interrupted a group of Natural England volunteers having what looked like a bit of a party. Unfortunately they informed me that it was a bit quiet around these parts at the moment what with the waters being low but if I popped around the corner there was a group of Whooper Swans. Unfortunately they weren't there but I was rewarded with a couple of female Marsh Harriers and a small flock of Golden Plovers. Another unfortunate thing is I can't remember the name of the reserve but heres a Google Map Link.The little white rectangle at the bottom right is the car park. Follow the path up and to the left and you can see the 'V' shaped hide.

Here they are in all their glory

Golden Plovers

Golden Plovers

Golden Plovers

Golden Plovers

Golden Plovers, Lapwings and Dunlin

If you were a Peregrine which one would you go for. You have one shot at it!

Golden Plovers and Lapwing at rest

All day it was either beautiful winter sunshine or dark windy snow. Luckily while I was there the sun was king and I managed some nice light. Its a nice little reserve that looks out onto flooded fields a bit like Catcott. There was one chap in the main hide who told me a lot of the area and what's been seen over the years.

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

There were two Marsh Harriers flying unusually high and often sent the birds up. We summised they were Female rather than young due to the missing primals but we could be very wrong? I've been having some good luck with Marsh Harriers of late. These two in particular came closer than the ones around Somerset. I've had some good close up shots. Just need a nice close up of a Male please.

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

He did say there was a sighting of a Green Winged Teal on the reserve but we didn't see it. A small flock of  of Widgeon though and a couple of ordinary Teal

The ducks at rest

The ducks scattered by the Marsh Harriers

A couple of Buzzards made an appearance and were instantly joined by a Crow (or is it a Raven?) who gave up harrying them pretty soon. It seemed to do it out of habit rather than intent. The pics below show what looks like a ballet between the two but of course it wasn't

Buzzard and Crow

Buzzard and Crow

Buzzard and Crow

Buzzard and Crow

Quit a striking Buzzard I thought

Buzzard

Buzzard

And last but not least a Peregrine whizzed through far off in the distance scaring some Black Headed Gulls. Just managed to get a few shots.

Peregrine after scaring the Gulls.

Well the Golden bit is pretty obvious but where is the white from the title I hear you ask since the Whoopers, all sixty of them, were of feeding in the fields far away. Well the sky was getting pretty black and as I was leaving the car park the flakes began. Within minutes it was a white out and the fields became blankets. Tricky drive back for a while but as you can read I made it! Worth the trip I think.

Diolch yn fawr iawn Barcud

(CLICK ON A PIC AND IT WILL GO BIG)

I had the good fortune of having to drive almost the full length of the A483 today. A road I know well from living in North Wales. Mid Wales in particular is very beautiful in deed. Those low rolling hills with distant snow streaked peaks in the distance just giving an ominous hint of other more dangerous and beautiful parts. Not that far from Llanelli I noticed the signs for the Kite feeding centre. I veered off course and headed for it. Ive done this before many years ago and exactly the same thing happened this time. I got lost. The signs just disappear. But who needs a well meaning and deserving contrive when you can just cruise along the main A483, stop in any layby you want and watch these outstanding creatures sailing around. I saw literally dozens upon dozens of them on the hundred mile stretch between Llandeilo and Newtown. If you want an excellent view of one just go and shop in Tescos in Llandrindod Wells. There was one circling above the car park. Most of them were around conurbations. They are opportunists and like Buzzards a bit of a glorified Crow!

But on with the show. In my defence the weather was as overcast, dark and contrastless (sic) as you could want. Thats why they look so flat unfortunately. They are random birds taken as I drove along.

Red Kite (So are the rest so I wont bother titling them)

Oh and other than quit a few Magpies, Ravens and Crows, three Buzzards and the occasional Black Bird this Robin was the only other bird I saw all day. The Kites out numbered everything else save the Crows.

This one had what looked like long grass stuck in its talons

Fab day and a wise choice to take my camera I think you'll agree. Hope I have to do the same trip in the summer.

A long walk down a short Drove

Not to be outdone and to give old Mr Riley an outing I headed solo back down to London Drove. After ignoring specific instructions not to park in the Westhey car park, walking half way down the main track, turning round and walking back to his car, driving past London Drove back to Westhey village, turning round and heading back again Mr Riley finally turns up to go Fire Crest hunting.

While I was waiting for him I managed to grab a pic of a Gold Crest. One of many that are flitting around just at the entrance. Plus a Wren.

Gold Crest

Wren

Wren

Wren

Mike was also there hunting the Fire Crest so there was plenty of time for a chat before Mr Riley turned up. He had seen it flit into some brush and was patiently looking to no avail. After standing on the path for a about half an hour we get bored and headed to the hide as we did yesterday. This time no Harriers or Peregrines but he was chuffed to see the Goosanders.

Goosander having a flap

A few Water Rails were in the reeds just by the hide

Herons

Disappointed by the lack of big named birds I was frustrated by a bearded Tit that was calling just in front of us. As Mr Riley turned to go a King Fisher flew by. Oh well!

We went back to the spot after hearing about a sighting but when we got there there was nothing. We saw Mike driving off (He later told me he didn't see it again). A case of bad timing all round by the looks of things. Then the call went out and all eyes went to the dead trees and brambles. Mr Riley thinks he saw it and I did have a small brown thing in my sights but it went before I could get it. I dont think it was one. Mr Riley gave up after another twenty minutes but I stayed about an hour. It wasn't like there was anything else to look at. The trees and bushes were completely devoid of bird life. The only thing I saw was a Robin once. Other than that absolutely nothing whatsoever!! Not one to hang around and preferring the serendipitous form of birding I packed up and left.

But that wasn't the end of things. Back on the main road Mike had parked up and was looking at a tree opposite. Apparently he had seen what could be a Siberian Chiffchaff. So we had a good hour chatting and watching this little bird flitting down from the trees to a pile of logs with an occasional flurry up in the air. Really cool to watch. It was definitely smaller than the other two that stayed in the tree but there is no green or yellow showing on it. Then again they do seem to vary in colour quite a lot in reference pictures. Unfortunately it didn't call. Is it or isn't it? You decide!

Siberian Chiffchaff?

Siberian Chiffchaff?

Siberian Chiffchaff?

Siberian Chiffchaff?

In the silhouetted light I thought I had got a Common Chiffchaff for reference but it turns out to be a Gold Crest!

That all done I headed back through Shapwick and Ham Wall. Just over the old Railway bridge at Ham Wall I stopped to see a group of people watching a young Heron stock still on the far bank. I slowly got close and watched.

Heron watching a hole

Got him

Heron with a Vole?

Walking away with its catch

Preparing to swallow

Gone and ready for the next one

I did flick over to Video to capture all this but it swallowed it before I could get a view.

Bit of a funny day with ups and downs but in the end there is always a surprise or two. Really good to spend time with both Mr Riley and Mike.